According to police, Gautier, another 16-year-old and a 19-year-old went to the Dickenson Memorial Library at 148 Albertus Way after they left University High School on Thursday afternoon. The students went into an unoccupied room at the library where Gautier took out a handgun and started showing it to the others about 3:26 p.m.

“The other teens said that he was playing with it, fooling around with it, when it discharged, shooting him in the head,” Jones said.

According to an incident report released Friday, the teenager was found with a gunshot wound to the right eye, sitting in a chair in a room on the north side of the library with the gun next to him.

The library was closed Friday.

Police don't know yet how the teen came into possession of the firearm but detectives were working on tracing Gautier's whereabouts Thursday and Wednesday night. The two other teens with the victim at the time of the shooting told police Gautier found the gun Wednesday night, Jones said.

“The other teens said he found the gun but we are still trying to figure out where he got it,” Jones said.

The gun, a .38 special Taurus, was reported stolen, possibly during a burglary, at a home in Deltona 10 years ago, an incident not connected to Gautier, Jones said.

“It was just a tragic accident,” he said. However, if investigators determine someone gave Gautier the firearm, Jones said that person would be charged.

Volusia County schools spokeswoman Nancy Wait said a team of counselors was at University High School on Friday to assist students with counseling and would also be there Monday.

"On behalf of University High and the school district, we are deeply saddened by this loss. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to Yardeh's family and friends. We will do everything we can to help support them during this difficult time," Wait said in a statement released after she learned of his death.

The shooting is an “unusual incident,” considering where it occurred, Orange City Police Chief Peter Thomas said.

“So far, the investigation does not show that anyone in the library was endangered,” Thomas said. “There was a limited number of people in the library at the time.”

With her son hospitalized in critical condition earlier Friday, Maria Gautier was overwhelmed with tears and could not speak.

“Yardeh, te amo,” Maria Gautier cried out in Spanish in her North Carpenter Avenue home. “Yardeh, como quisiera que estes aqui (Yardeh, how I wish you were here).”

Tammy Parker, her sister, said the family was surprised her nephew was in possession of a gun. He did not get into trouble and had never been involved with any criminal activity, Parker said.

Maria Gautier and her son moved to Orange City almost two years ago from Massachusetts. He played football last spring but not in the fall.

The boy recently developed an interest in the military and planned to join the U.S. Army after high school. Gautier, a freshman, liked to show off his ROTC uniform, Parker said.

“He was so much into it that he joined the ROTC program at the school,” Parker said.

Yardeh Gautier, who loved football and played basketball by his home every day, had been struggling with his grades at school. But his sudden interest in the military encouraged him to do better. Because of that improvement, his school counselor had recommended him to attend a military camp to improve his performance and earn school credits, Parker said.

He was scheduled to attend an orientation at the camp Monday, she said.

“He was set to go to the Florida Youth Challenge Academy in Starke for credit recovery school,” Parker said.

The family is still struggling to comprehend how the boy got the gun.

“We were very surprised,” Parker said. “We didn't want to believe it was so.”

<p>ORANGE CITY -- The Orange City 16-year-old who police say was playing with a gun in a library when he shot himself in the eye has died, Detective Ken Jones said.</p><p>Yardeh Gautier, 16, was pronounced dead at 2 p.m. Friday at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Jones said.</p><p>According to police, Gautier, another 16-year-old and a 19-year-old went to the Dickenson Memorial Library at 148 Albertus Way after they left University High School on Thursday afternoon. The students went into an unoccupied room at the library where Gautier took out a handgun and started showing it to the others about 3:26 p.m. </p><p> </p><p>“The other teens said that he was playing with it, fooling around with it, when it discharged, shooting him in the head,” Jones said. </p><p> </p><p> According to an incident report released Friday, the teenager was found with a gunshot wound to the right eye, sitting in a chair in a room on the north side of the library with the gun next to him. </p><p> </p><p> The library was closed Friday. </p><p> </p><p> Police don't know yet how the teen came into possession of the firearm but detectives were working on tracing Gautier's whereabouts Thursday and Wednesday night. The two other teens with the victim at the time of the shooting told police Gautier found the gun Wednesday night, Jones said. </p><p> </p><p> “The other teens said he found the gun but we are still trying to figure out where he got it,” Jones said. </p><p> </p><p> The gun, a .38 special Taurus, was reported stolen, possibly during a burglary, at a home in Deltona 10 years ago, an incident not connected to Gautier, Jones said. </p><p> </p><p> “It was just a tragic accident,” he said. However, if investigators determine someone gave Gautier the firearm, Jones said that person would be charged. </p><p> </p><p> Volusia County schools spokeswoman Nancy Wait said a team of counselors was at University High School on Friday to assist students with counseling and would also be there Monday.</p><p>"On behalf of University High and the school district, we are deeply saddened by this loss. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to Yardeh's family and friends. We will do everything we can to help support them during this difficult time," Wait said in a statement released after she learned of his death. </p><p> </p><p> The shooting is an “unusual incident,” considering where it occurred, Orange City Police Chief Peter Thomas said. </p><p> “So far, the investigation does not show that anyone in the library was endangered,” Thomas said. “There was a limited number of people in the library at the time.” </p><p>With her son hospitalized in critical condition earlier Friday, Maria Gautier was overwhelmed with tears and could not speak. </p><p>“Yardeh, te amo,” Maria Gautier cried out in Spanish in her North Carpenter Avenue home. “Yardeh, como quisiera que estes aqui (Yardeh, how I wish you were here).” </p><p> </p><p>Tammy Parker, her sister, said the family was surprised her nephew was in possession of a gun. He did not get into trouble and had never been involved with any criminal activity, Parker said. </p><p> </p><p> Maria Gautier and her son moved to Orange City almost two years ago from Massachusetts. He played football last spring but not in the fall. </p><p> </p><p>The boy recently developed an interest in the military and planned to join the U.S. Army after high school. Gautier, a freshman, liked to show off his ROTC uniform, Parker said. </p><p> “He was so much into it that he joined the ROTC program at the school,” Parker said. </p><p> Yardeh Gautier, who loved football and played basketball by his home every day, had been struggling with his grades at school. But his sudden interest in the military encouraged him to do better. Because of that improvement, his school counselor had recommended him to attend a military camp to improve his performance and earn school credits, Parker said. </p><p> He was scheduled to attend an orientation at the camp Monday, she said. </p><p> “He was set to go to the Florida Youth Challenge Academy in Starke for credit recovery school,” Parker said. </p><p> The family is still struggling to comprehend how the boy got the gun. </p><p> “We were very surprised,” Parker said. “We didn't want to believe it was so.”</p>